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Author Topic: Which les paul?  (Read 8765 times)

bamboofrog

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Which les paul?
« on: May 01, 2009, 10:18:28 PM »
Hi all

I have been hankering for a les paul guitar but I am not sure what to go for. I have been looking at lower end Tokai's and Vintage's range but non of them feel right so I will probably have to spend a bit more.

The obvious choice is a Gibson Studio which I may be able to get on budget with a bit of luck. I have a budget of about £500 and any suggestions would be appreciated of makes and models would be much appreciated.
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TheIronBeast

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Re: Which les paul?
« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2009, 10:27:59 PM »
The Gibson LP Studio or LP Junior are pretty good choices. I've played both and they were both pretty decent guitars. The Epiphone LP's that start around £400 are pretty good guitars too.

I have heard really good things about Agile LP's as well but haven't actually played one, they're probably worth checking out too.
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Lu_B

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Re: Which les paul?
« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2009, 10:38:47 PM »
Which Tokai's have you been looking at?

A secondhand MIJ Tokai would be well within your £500 budget and would be more than a match for the Studio.

I'm obviously biased as I have one :lol:  Picked mine up for £300 which was a bargain for a MIJ but you should be able to pick one up for a shade under £400.

Wouldn't bother with the newer MIC Tokai's but the MIK Tokais are usually solid instruments.

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bamboofrog

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Re: Which les paul?
« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2009, 10:50:03 PM »
It was the made in china Tokai's that I tried, I will keep my eyes open for a MIJ Tokai. I have heard good things about a lot of the MIJ les paul style guitars such as Greco, Burny and Edwards.
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the prince of shred

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Re: Which les paul?
« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2009, 11:01:10 PM »
agile,
les paul menace? (i have one and can say i think its a very nice guitar, nicer than some of the more expensives gibsons....)
MIJ tokias
edwards,
all gooduns.....
but same old advice... play everything!!!
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dave_mc

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Re: Which les paul?
« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2009, 11:23:47 PM »
Quote from: Lu_B on May 01, 2009, 10:38:47 PM

A secondhand MIJ Tokai would be well within your £500 budget and would be more than a match for the Studio.


+1 (or other MIJ). :)
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Philly Q

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Re: Which les paul?
« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2009, 11:54:19 PM »
Quote from: bamboofrog on May 01, 2009, 10:50:03 PM
I have heard good things about a lot of the MIJ les paul style guitars such as Greco, Burny and Edwards.

Add Orville by Gibson to that list, I think they probably have the most vintage vibe of all the Japanese "copies".
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Lu_B

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Re: Which les paul?
« Reply #7 on: May 02, 2009, 12:51:27 AM »
Quote from: bamboofrog on May 01, 2009, 10:50:03 PM
It was the made in china Tokai's that I tried, I will keep my eyes open for a MIJ Tokai. I have heard good things about a lot of the MIJ les paul style guitars such as Greco, Burny and Edwards.

Pay a visit to www.tokaiforum.com the guys over there are really friendly and knowledgeable, not just on Tokais but on other MIJ guitars.
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Dubn 57 Goldtop

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Re: Which les paul?
« Reply #8 on: May 02, 2009, 06:28:52 AM »
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Les-Paul-Studio-Electric-Guitar?sku=517030

the faded cherry, plain wood finish would be your best bet. they new for $900, that's dollars

just save man, it'll be so worth it. trust me
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horsehead

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Re: Which les paul?
« Reply #9 on: May 02, 2009, 08:05:37 AM »
+2 for tokai, but Orvilles are lovely as well
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bamboofrog

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Re: Which les paul?
« Reply #10 on: May 02, 2009, 08:39:45 AM »
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Lu_B

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Re: Which les paul?
« Reply #11 on: May 02, 2009, 12:42:36 PM »
They are both good guitars in my opinion.

I would guess the specs are as follows:-

Blue - Flamed sycamore laminated top, mahogany back and neck with a rosewood board.  Probably  somewhere in the region £500-600 new, I would pay somewhere around the £300 mark taking into account the damage and the colour - its not everybodys cuppa tea if you want to sell it.

The Cherry Burst - Similar sort of spec as the other one but the top is quilted maple.  Probably somewhere in the region of £800-900 new.  I think his £450 buy it now is quite reasonable - he's already upgraded the pups, which add little to the value but a nice addition if your the lucky buyer.  And it comes with a case

Others knocking about

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOKAI-Love-Rock-Les-Paul-LP-Electric-Guitar_W0QQitemZ190304270230QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item190304270230&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

This one never retailed at £1000 its a Korean model (3 screws on the truss cover are the first give away).  A sturdy guitar but not a bargain at £399

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tokai-Love-Rock-Sunburst-MIJ_W0QQitemZ130303290326QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item130303290326&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

A bit overpriced in my opinion (I think its been on a couple of times) but a very nice guitar

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOKAI-LS65-2002_W0QQitemZ270382080856QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item270382080856&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50][url]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOKAI-LS65-2002_W0QQitemZ270382080856QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item270382080856&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50[/url]

Looks alright, lower model originally than a LS85 (don't get hung up on the model numbers as Tokai change them frequently as they're based on the selling price of the guitar - a LS60 became a LS70 and is now LS80 - no difference in spec) need to ask about the serial number though.  I don't think the scratch plate is original but could be wrong.

If you find something your interested in post it on the Tokai forum's Ebay sightings section and the guys will chime in and tell you all about it and most importantly whether its fake or not.
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dave_mc

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Re: Which les paul?
« Reply #12 on: May 02, 2009, 04:59:11 PM »
Quote from: Lu_B on May 02, 2009, 12:42:36 PM

If you find something your interested in post it on the Tokai forum's Ebay sightings section and the guys will chime in and tell you all about it and most importantly whether its fake or not.


+1, that's the easiest thing to do. I can spot the obvious fakes, or when a seller is trying to pass off a korean or chinese one as japanese (3-screw truss rod covers are on the Korean/Chinese ones, 2-screw on the MIJ), but they can spot the more subtle things a lot better than I can. :)
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_tom_

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Re: Which les paul?
« Reply #13 on: May 02, 2009, 05:00:46 PM »
I dont know if any MIJ ones are under £500 but if my Pearl is anything to go by, Japanese is definitely the way to go. Feels so much nicer than my Epiphone.
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TheIronBeast

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Re: Which les paul?
« Reply #14 on: May 02, 2009, 05:09:50 PM »
How do Tokai LP's compare to Gibsons? The music stores closest to me don't stock them so haven't actually tried one out before.
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